Serious case of sales success, Duster is reborn under the same premises that it was conceived from day one: an SUV to meet the essential customer expectations, betting on a low price policy that allowed its democratization – since its launch in 2010, more than 1.9 million units have been sold. And don’t think that it’s seen as a second-rate product: Dacia Duster has been, almost from the start, a cult object and a motto for several clubs, spread across almost every market where it exists, including Portugal.
Now in this facelift, Duster doesn’t break with the past (after all, it’s not a new generation), but rather shows an evolution: the rugged SUV body is kept, but the headlights – with Y-shaped daytime running lights (the same design stands out on the rear optics) and LED technology (with automatic high-beam activation as standard) – and the grille were redesigned to convey “a feeling of a stronger and more pronounced personality”, with the imprint of a new personality dictated by a more contemporary logo and with the finger of new design director Miles Nurnberger, who changed the refinement of Aston Martin for Dacia’s rationality. On the back of the car, a new spoiler which, combined with new 16” and 17” wheels and LED lights, helped to achieve a reduction in CO2.
Inside, the raised center console, with a retractable armrest and a compartment to store more than a liter, whose integration allowed offering, in some versions, two USB sockets for the rear passengers (the ones in the front also have two inputs) ).
In the field of connectivity and infotainment, in addition to the Dacia Plug & Play audio equipment (radio, MP3, USB and Bluetooth connection), two new multimedia systems are available: Media Display and Media Nav, managed via a new 8-inch touchscreen ” and compatible with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
At the mechanics, the Eco-G 100 bi-fuel promises to win, which matches gasoline with LPG and which, thanks to the increase in the deposit of the latter, offers a range of up to 1235 km. The change from gasoline to LPG is just a button away and nothing in the car’s operation reveals the change, as we were able to see. The impact on the portfolio is notorious, with the average LPG consumption announced at 3.8 kg/100 km, which means that covering this distance will cost just over €2.50. And, even if the accelerator is abused and the value doubles, it will still be a huge savings compared to gasoline or even diesel.
With front wheel drive only, the bi-fuel arrives coupled with a six-speed manual gearbox, as, by the way, the only gasoline engines TCe 90 (4×2), TCe 130 (4×2) and TCe 150 (4×4) – in the case of the latter, adds the debut of the EDC double-clutch gearbox, but only in the two-wheel drive versions. The dCi 115 diesel block, which can have two or four drive wheels, is offered with a six-speed manual gearbox.
For off-road lovers, a special note: the new Duster doesn’t disappoint, with a ground height of 217mm in the 2WD version and 214mm in the 4×4; a 21° ventral angle; 30° attack; output of 34° (2WD) and 33° (4×4). And, if equipped with Media Display or Media Nav, it includes a 4×4 Monitor system that shows, on the central screen, side inclinometer (shows the angle between the left and right sides of the car), inclination angle; compass and altimeter.
Prices are Dacia: from €14,400, and the 4WD diesel version with top equipment can be purchased from €24,200.
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